Seniors Shine in Different Ways for LG Hoops

The La Grange boys basketball team has gotten off to a hot start this season, and the five senior members on the team are all contributing in special ways.

Two are starters (Cole Collier and Mason Kleiber), two are supportive reserves (Scott Davis and Caleb Stokes) and the final senior, Oliver Gunn, has turned a season-ending football injury into a basketball coaching role with the team.

“Cole and Mason, they are really almost the same type of player on the court (athletic, do-it-all types) and they compliment each other well. Those two guys are going to blossom big for us,” said head coach Trent Collier. “Caleb Stokes and Scott Davis bring great bench energy and are great teammates. We wouldn’t be this team without them. Ollie (Gunn), what we thought we were going to get on the court, we are transitioning to the coaching role. He keeps CRASH stats for us (Charges Rebounds, Assists, Steals and Hustle plays). When they come off the floor he’s talking to them about what they need to be doing. Those CRASH stats, at the end of the day, are who we are.”

We’re proud to honor all five senior members of the La Grange boys basketball team as this week’s Fayette County Athletes of the Week.

We caught up with them minutes after their 63-31 win over Hallettsville Tuesday. Here are some highlights from those interviews:

It’s just two games into

the season but how do you think things are going?

Davis: “It’s good we’ve started off 2-0, but there’s definitely a lot of room for improvement.”

Kleiber: “Starting off 2-0 it’s a good feeling but there are a lot of things we can do to get better. The effort is there. Our shots will start falling by the middle of the season, we just have to keep working hard every day.” Stokes: “We’re not where we need to be, but we’ll get there in time.”

Gunn: “We have the talent to be just as good if not better than the past two years, we just have to do better on the little things.”

Collier: “It’s great that we’ve started out 2-0 but we have a lot of places to improve as a team. Our hustle is there, our energy is there, it’s just not all in the right places.”

How is Oliver as a student coach?

Collier: “He helps me with my dad (head coach Trent Collier), helps me not butt heads with him.”

Davis: “He’s one of the best.”

Oliver, how has it been being a student coach?

Gunn: “It’s different. Sometimes I don’t know when is the time to step in and say something, it’s about figuring it out, taking on a different role.”

What’s at the top of your Christmas list?

Davis: “A new, nice jersey – LeBron.” Kleiber: “I need a laptop for college.” Stokes: “Maybe some new basketball shoes.”

Gunn: “I need some new clothes.” Collier: “Some more basketball shoes.”

Graduation is coming up quick. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Davis: “I’d like to get into nursing, be a travel nurse for a while and then become an anesthesiologist.”

Kleiber: “Not exactly sure, something in criminal justice.”

Stokes: “I want to code computers.” Gunn: “Something in business and finance.”

Collier: “I want to go into welding and engineering.”